Hair curling device



June 2, 1959 w. K. WELDON 2,888,937

HAIR CURLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15. 1958 INVENTOR, WELDON Waoorv Z4 4 HMA TTORNE) nite This invention relates to a device for curling hair andmore particularly to a hair curling device adapted to maintain the hairunder tension when a tress of hair is wound thereon. The device isparticularly useful when employed in conjunction with Wavingpreparations and with methods which fix the curl of the tress by meansof a curling device.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved hair curler.

The art of waving, as conventionally practiced in the home and beautyshops, involves the division of the hair into various tress sections.Each of the tresses is then wound on a hair curler, and by dampeningwith water or by chemical or heat means, or the like, the tresses causedto take the form imparted to the hair by the curler.

During hair waving treatments, the hair filaments elongate when dampenedwith water or waving lotions and contract when drying, and one of theadvantages associated with hair curlers currently in vogue is that theyfail to embody adequate means for compensating for the elongations andcontractions of the hair filaments. Consequently, the hair trcssesfrequently become loosened on the curlers, become displaced thereon, andtake the curl form existing under the loosened or displaced condition.Frequently the hair filaments crack or break or become brittle from thesubsequent shrinkage. The curler described herein is equipped amongother elements with rows of directional teeth for restraining the hairfrom circumferential slippage and with resilient rib sections formaintaining the hair under tension. The curler is also provided withrelatively sharp edges along the sides of the ribs to aid in restrainingthe hair from circumferential slippage.

The average user of curlers is well aware of the fact that the lotionsemployed therewith are usually highly lubricating in nature, thus makingit difficult to whirl the hair curlers with the fingers withoutencountering slippage between the fingers and the curler. This slippageis overcome in the instant invention by the provision of knurled endmembers. The bead-like projections on the surface of the end membersefiectively overcome finger slippage by providing a roughened surfacefor finger contact. The bead-like knurl projections not only performthis function, but they also aid materially in preventingcircumferential as well as lateral hair slippage along the end portionsbecause the filaments of hairtend to intertwine with the bead-likeprojections.

In certain embodiments of the invention is has been found desirable toprovide resilient reinforcing rings integrally attached to the ribs toprevent their inward flexing to an undesirable degree. By providingthese reinforcing rings with a knurled surface it has also been foundthat the circumferential slippage of the hair along such rings isgreatly reduced.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple andeffective hair curler which restrains the hair 2,888,937 Patented June2, 1959 ice 2 filaments from circumferential movement about theperiphery of the curler once a tress of hair filaments is wound thereonand which simultaneously holds the hair filaments under tension.

Another object is to provide a hair curler that effectively restrainsthe hair filaments of a tress from circumferential slippage whilesimultaneously holding the hair under a tensive strain, the curler beingso designed as to minimize finger slippage at the ends thereof, andbeing relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy and convenient touse.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a curler in accord with the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the curler taken along line22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a curler comprising a modifiedembodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4,illustrating the directional features of the teeth arranged along therib members thereof, certain portions of the structure being omitted forclarity; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3 showing inwardly flexed rib sections with a tresspartially wound on the curler.

With particular reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the curler it) includesannular end members 11 and 12 which are beveled outwardly to presentenlarged outer end edges 11 and 12 at the end extremities of the curler10. Beveled surfaces 13 and 14 of end members 11 and 12 respectively areknurled to form roughened surfaces much the same as the presented bysandpaper. Thus, minute, sharp, bead-like anti-slip projections orknurls 14' are randomly arranged on the beveled surfaces. 7

The end members 11 and 12 are interconnected by a plurality ofperipherally spaced and longitudinally extending straight resilient ribs15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The ribs have outer peripheralfaces,as for example outer face 17 of rib 17. The ribs are so designed as tohave curved inner surfaces that juncture with the outer faces alongopposite relatively sharp side edges thereof on opposite sides of therespective faces, as for example side edge 48 and opposite side edge 49of outer face 17. The outer faces of the respective ribs define agenerally cylindrical body or winding drum, of which the surface isinterrupted between the respective adjacent ribs. Annular reinforcingrings 23 and 24 reinforce the ribs against excessive inward flexing. Therings are integrally attached to the outer peripheral faces of.

the ribs and so shaped as to have respective knurled outer curvedsurfaces 25 and 26 which taper downwardly to the outer faces of theribs.

Along the outer faces of ribs 15 and 19 are rows 27 and 28 respectivelyof radially projecting minute hairgripping teeth, whereas along theouter faces of ribs 16 and 20 are respective rows 29 and 30 of minutedirectional hairgripping teeth. Ribs 18 and 22 also have directionalteeth rows 31' and 32 along their respective outer faces. The teeth inrows 29 and 30 project counterclockwise around the periphery of thecurler whereas the teeth in rows 31 and 32 project clockwise around theperiphery of the curler as viewed in Figure 3. It will be apparent thatthe directional teeth project from the rib at an acute angle to therespective face thereof whereas the radially projecting teeth project ata perpendicular angle to their respective rib faces." In:the curlershownin Figure 3 the teeth-inthe top half'of nthe curler that are alongtheribs 15, 16 and 22 project in parallel: and in the same direction awayfrom the bottom half of the curler whereas the teeth in-the bottom 'halfof the curler along the ribs 18, 19 and 20 project in parallel and inthe opposite direction to the teeth in the top half.

With particular reference to the-embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5,the curler 10 includes annular end members 11 and 12. which are-beveledoutwardly to present enlarged outer edges 11 and 12'respectively; at the end extremities ofthe curler 10: Beveled surfaces13 and 14 of" the end members 11 and 12: respectively are also roughenedto present knurled surfaces.

The end members 11 andlZ in thisembodiment are interconnected by, aplurality; OfperipheIaIly'spaced and longitudinally extendingmesilientstraight ribs:34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39. The resilientribs, in thisembodiment also have outer faces and curved inner surfaces that juncturewith the outer faces along relatively sharp side edges, as exemplifiedin Figure by-outer face 34 and'side edges 52 and 51 of rib 34.

Ribs. 34 and 37 have respective rows 40 and41 of radially projectingminute hairgrippingteeth' alongtheir outer faces. On the other hand,ribs 35 and 38 and ribs 36 and 39 have rows 42 and 43 and rows 44- and45, respectively, of minute directional hairgripping teeth along theirrespective outer'peripheral. faces. The teeth in rows 42 and 43 areoppositely directed around the cylindrical body surface of the curlerwith respect to the teeth in rows 44 and 45, the latter teeth projectingclockwise around the periphery of the curler whereas the former teethproject counterclockwise around the periphery of the curler. It willalso be noted that ribs 34, 35 and 39 and the end member portionsadjacent to the ends thereof, constituting a half of the curler, haveteeth all projecting in parallel and in the same direction away from theother half of the curler whereas the other half of the curler,constituted by ribs. 36, 37 and 38 and end member portions adjacent tothe end thereof has the teeth projecting parallellyin the oppositedirection.

By showing only a few hair filaments wound on the portion of the curlerbetween ring 25 and end memher 11, Figure 6 generally illustrates theinward flexing oftheribs that takes place when a tress 46 of hair iswound on the curler illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The directionalteeth in rows 29 and 30 engage the filaments 47 of hair and prevent themfrom slipping circumferentially about the periphery of the curler due tothe tensive forces imparted to them by the inwardly flexed resilientribs. The side edges of the rib faces also tend to restrain thefilaments from circumferential movement by engagement with the filamentsof hair adjacent to and overlapping the edges. The inwardly flexed ribsmaintain the filament of hair under a tensive stress-at all timesbecause of the expansive forces tending to return them to their normalperipheral position. As the hairfilaments 47 elongate and contractbecause of being treated with the water, the lotions and through drying,the resiliency of' the ribs tends to compensate for the elongations andcontractions by causing the ribs to flex outwardly from their inwardlyflexedposition or permitting them to be further flexed inwardly, asthe'case may be. The teeth in rows 31 and 32 are directed around theperiphery of the curler in a direction opposite to the teeth in rows 29and 30, and although having a greater capacity for restralnin'g the hairwhen it is wound on the curler in the opposite direction, they of coursealso grip the hair filaments to a certain extent. However, thedirectional teeth lnrows 31 and 32' function most effectively when thetress is wound on the curler 10 in the-opposite direction. The radiallyextending teeth also exert some gripping 4. action. It may be mentionedat this point that the directional teeth appear to be especiallyeffective because of their minute character, it being contemplated thatthe minute teeth should project generally not more than about ten totwenty hair diameters above the outer face of the rib or not more thanabout .05 inch.

The reinforcing ring 23 is spaced from end member 11 and spaced from theother ring 26 so as to have flexible rib portions between the.respective members and rings. The rings 25 and 26 overlie the ribs andthe curved surfaces thereof are knurled to provide added resistance tothe circumferential slippage of the hair, the hair filaments engagingbetween the bead-like knurls as is the case with the knurls of the endmember. The randomly arranged knurls on the surfaces of the end membersdeter lateral movement of the hair filaments at the ends of the curlerand also provide a finger-engaging surface which minimizes slippagebetween the fingers and the. curler as previously mentioned.

Its evident. that the resilient ribs in their inwardly flexed conditioncooperate with. the means provided on the curler for restraining.theliair filaments from slipping around. the periphery of the ribstomaintain the hair filaments under tensively strained condition.Thecurler of the invention should have rows of teeth located. inopposite halves of the curler and pointing in the same general directionaround thebody surface of the curler and should also have other rows ofteeth located in opposite halves of the curler and pointing in adirection around the body surface which is opposite to the direction ofthe first mentioned rows of teeth.

After the tress has been Wound upon the curler of the invention thetress is secured by any conventional hairgrippingmeans such as a hairpin, one. portion of which may overlie the tress whereas the otherportion may project within the. curler to engage the tress between theflexed ribs.

The curlers may be made. of a resilient plastic or like material such aspolyethylene.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention have beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that itbe understood that it is intended in'the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what itis desired to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. An elongated hair curler comprising two annular end members and aplurality of longitudinally extending straight resilient ribsinterconnecting with said end members, each of said end members having,an enlarged end edge and a beveled surface extending outwardly from saidconnections with said ribs to said end edge, said beveled surface havingknurls randomly arranged and projecting therefrom, said ribs havingouter faces defining an interrupted cylindrical body surface of thecurler and being spaced one from the next around the periphery of saidcurler, said ribs being adapted to yield resiliently inwardly as hair iswrapped on said body surface and thereafter to impose generally constanttension on said hair, said plurality of ribs including at least two ribsin one half of the curler and another two ribs in the other half of thecurler, each of said two ribs of said one half having a respective rowof teeth extending from the respective faces thereof and all of saidteeth extending in parallel in a direction away from said other half andeach extending at an acute angle to its respective rib face, and each ofsaid two ribs of said other half having a respective row of teethextending from the respective. faces thereof and all of such teethextending in parallel in a direction away from said. one half and eachextending at an acute angle to its respective rib face.

I 2'. A hair curler according to claim 1 wherein each of said pluralityof ribs have a curved inner surface that junctures with the outer faceon both sides thereof along relatively sharp side edges of said outerface.

3. An elongated hair curler comprising two annular end members and aplurality of longitudinally extending straight resilient ribsinterconnecting with said end members, each of said end members havingan enlarged end edge and a beveled surface extending outwardly from saidconnections with said ribs to said end edge, said beveled surface havingknurls randomly arranged and projecting therefrom, said ribs havingouter faces defining an interrupted cylindrical body surface of thecurler and being spaced one from the next around the periphery of saidcurler, each of said plurality of ribs having a curved inner surfacethat junctures with its outer face on both sides thereof along sharpside edges of said outer face, two annular reinforcing rings spaced fromeach other and the respective adjacent end members, said rings beingintegrally attached to said spaced ribs around the periphery of saidcurler and projecting outwardly of the outer faces of said ribs andhaving respective outwardly curved surfaces tapering downwardly to therespective faces of said ribs, said outwardly curved surface havingknurls randomly arranged and projecting therefrom, said ribs beingfurther adapted to yield resiliently inwardly as hair is wrapped on saidbody surface and thereafter to impose generally constant tension on saidhair, said plurality of ribs including at least two ribs in one half ofthe curler and another two ribs in the other half of the curler, each ofsaid two n'bs of said one half having a respective row of teethextending from its respective face at an acute angle thereto and all ofsaid teeth of said two ribs extending in parallel in a direction awayfrom said other half, and each of said two ribs of said other halfhaving a respective row of teeth extending from its respective face atan acute angle thereto and all ofsuch teeth of said other half extendingin parallel in a direction away from said one half.

4. A hair curler comprising two annular end members, a plurality ofstraight resiliently deformable ribs extending between said end membersforming a generally cylindrical winding drum for receiving hairtherearound, the outer surfaces of said end members meeting the outersurfaces of said ribs at the rib ends, and said end member surfacesextending outwardly towards the ends of the curler to form inclinedincreased diameter hair retaining end flanges, said end member surfacescarrying minute sharp anti-slip projections therefrom affording agripping surface for hair and a grip surface for manipulation by theuser, minute teeth projecting from at least one rib in a directioninclined from a radial direction toward one direction of rotation ofsaid drum and projecting from at least one other rib in a directioninclined from a radial direction toward the opposite direction ofrotation of said drum, said ribs being adapted resiliently to yieldinwardly when hair is wound on said drum whereby a tensioning force isapplied by said ribs to the wound hair.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein rib reinforcing meanscomprising at least one resilient ring are integrally attached to saidribs spacedly between the end members of the curler, said ring having anouter surface exposed at the surface of the drum and said ring surfacecarrying minute sharp anti-slip projections.

No references cited.

